Some years ago I traveled to New Orleans for spring break with a few friends.  Other than the usual debauchery that occurs in that particularly sinful town we had some FANTASTIC food.  The requisite hurricaine from Pat O’Briens, Beignets and Cafe Au Lait at Cafe du Monde, red beans and rice, and of course the muffuletta.  Our first muffuletta came from a hotel delivery restaurant called Cafe Roma.  It was pretty good, good enough to encourage me to eat another one.  Well the second one is the one that started an obsession.  We were directed to a more local eatery called Central Grocery.  There I ordered a muffuletta the size of a human head.  It was possibly one of the most unique sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Fast forward to my honeymoon.  My wife and I were porting out of New Orleans on a cruise, but we had a afternoon, night and morning to spend in New Orleans.  Of course I introduced her to the olive loaf laden sandwich.  She was not as enamored as I was.  Since then I have not been able to get my fix.  I’ve found numerous places that I can order them and have them shipped in dry ice to my door at an extremely prohibitive cost.  There are however some chain restaurants that offer them on the menu.  Specifically McAlister’s Deli.  They have a location in Paducah and that is where I intend to travel to today in search of my fix.  I have told my wife however that if this particular sandwich does not meet a minimal expectation, I might just have to purchase one online to my door at an outrageously high cost.  Because ultimately it is cheaper than traveling to New Orleans just for a sandwich.  Which I would totally do if I knew I would still be married when I got home.